Interment crypt drain and gas exhaust

ABSTRACT

AN INTERMENT CRYPT IS PROVIDED HAVING A FLUID EXHAUST DEVICE. A CONDUIT EXTENDS FROM THE CRYPT THROUGH A CHECK VALVE AND TO A VERTICALLY EXTENDING TUBE TERMINATING IN AN AIR CHAMBER DEFINED BY A GLOBE. THE FLUID PASSING THROUGH THE CONDUIT EXITS AS THE VALVE INTO THE   AIR CHAMBER AND THEN DISSIPATES INTO THE GROUND. WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION, THE NEED FOR SPECIAL SUMPS AND COMPLEX EXHAUST SYSTEMS IS ELIMINATED.

Feb. 23, 1971 J. A. SMITH INTERMENT CRYPT DRAIN AND GAS EXHAUST Filed Jan. 2, 1969 INVENTOR JOHN A. SMITH Xxx Irmeycm, J /nam'sm Qfialmfow ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,564,796 INTERMENT CRYPT DRAIN AND GAS EXHAUST John A. Smith, 30 Old Woodlands Road, 7100 Sumter Highway, Columbia, S.C. 29209 Filed Jan. 2, 1969, Ser. No. 788,587 Int. Cl. E04h 13/00; E04b 7/00 US. Cl. 52-131 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An interment crypt is provided having a fluid exhaust device. A conduit extends from the crypt through a check valve and to a vertically extending tube terminating in an air chamber defined by a globe. The fluid passing through the conduit exits as the valve into the air chamber and then dissipates into the ground. With this construction, the need for special sumps and complex exhaust systems is eliminated.

This invention relates to fluid exhaust systems and more particularly to fluid exhaust systems for interment cr ts.

'I hroughout the United States burial vault manufac turers claim that their burial vaults are waterproof from the outside in and that their product will not take on water through seepage or condensation. The one thing that is overlooked, however, is that the human body is seventy percent (70%) water. A person weighting 200 lbs. would produce 140 lbs. of water in decomposing. Figuring that there are eight (8) lbs. of water to the gallon, there would be sixteen (16) gallons of water in the vault that would never be expelled, because if water will not seep in, it certainly will not seep out. Thus, there is a need for interment drain and exhaust which will cheaply and effectively remove the fluids released during the decomposition of the body.

The fluid exhaust systems presently available require complex and expensive installation. They frequently require special crypts to be built having complex passageways and cavities molded into the vault. Other presently available devices require the use of special sumps or septic tanks and are required to be monitored and sealed after the decomposition of the body.

The fluid exhaust systems of this invention have the virtue of simplicity of construction, assembly and operations and can be adapted to virtually any burial vault being manufactured today, regardless of the material used in making the vault.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved fluid exhaust for burial vaults.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved fluid exhaust device which can be adapted for use with any standard vault.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved fluid exhaust device for burial vaults which is simple in construction, assembly, and operation and is not subject to malfunctions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fluid exhaust device for burial vaults which is simple and economical to install involving little or no additional work in preparing the grave for the burial vault.

Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention are realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve its objects, and in accordance with its purpose, this invention provides a fluid exhaust device for use with a burial vault which has top, bottom, side,

10 and end walls. The exhaust device includes a conduit extending into the vault at a position adjacent the upper surface of the bottom wall of the vault for removing fluids from the vault. A valve is connected to the conduit. The valve includes a vertical tube connected to the end of the conduit and check means positioned in the vertical tube to permit upward passage of fluids while preventing downward passage of fluids. The vertical tube has its upper end open at an elevation which is beneath the upper surface of the bottom wall of the vault. An air pocket providing means having top and side walls is positioned over the open end of the vertical tube with the interior walls of said air pocket means being spaced from said open end of said vertical tube to provide an air pocket surrounding the open end of the vertical tube to receive fluid exiting from the vertical tube. The air pocket means is open on its bottom to permit the fluid to dissipate into the soil.

The preferred check means is a ball positioned above a ball seat which cooperates with the ball when the ball rests on the seat to seal the tube and below a ball retainer which limits the upper movement of the ball.

It is preferred that the conduit extend through the bottom wall of the vault and that the valve be positioned adjacent the outer surface of the vault.

It is also preferred that the open end of the vertical tube be connected to a horizontal tube at a point intermediate the ends of the horizontal tube with at least one of the ends of the horizontal tube being open.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangement, combinations, and improvements shown and described.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory and are not intended to restrict the invention in any way.

The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrates a specific embodiment of the invention, and together with the description,/serves to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation partially in section of a burial vault having a fluid exhaust device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation partially in section of the valve and globe portion of the fluid exhaust device illustrated in FIG. 1

In FIG. 1 the interment crypt or burial vault is represented generally by the numeral 10, the vault includes a top wall 12, a bottom wall 14, two side walls 16 and 18, and two end walls one of which is represented by the numeral 20 and the other of which is omitted for purposes of clarity. A casket generally 22 is illustrated 65 schematically in position in the burial vault.

The fluid exhaust device, generally 24, is illustrated below and extending to the right of burial vault 10. In accordance with the invention, a conduit extends into the vault at a position adjacent the upper surface of the bottom wall for removing fluids from the vault. As here embodied, a hole 26 has been bored in the bottom wall 14 of vault and a tube 28 has been inserted through hole 26. Preferably, hole 26 is of such a diameter that tube 28 will fit snugly into the hole. A polyethylene bushing or conventional sealing compounds 27 are inserted between tube 28 and hole 26 to insure a tight, snug, fluid proof fit. The upper end 30 of tube 28 terminates at the upper surface 32 of bottom wall 14 to permit liquids which collect on surface 32 of bottom wall 14 to pass easily through tube 28.

Elbow 34 connects tube 28 with tube 36 which in turn is connected to a valve, generally 38, through elbow 40.

In accordance with the invention the valve includes a vertical tube connected to the end of the conduit and a check means positioned in the vertical tube to permit upward passage of fluids while preventing downward passage of fluids.

As here embodied, and as may thus be seen in FIG. 2, valve 38 includes a vertical tube 42 and a ball type check means. The check means includes a ball 44, an annular ball seat 46 mounted in tube 42 beneath the ball to cooperate with the ball seal tube 42 against passage of fluids when the ball rests on the ball seat. A plurality of ball retainers or bosses 48 are spaced above ball 44 for restricting the upward movement of ball 44 without interfering with the flow of fluids past ball 44. The upper end 50 of tube 42 is open to permit the exit of gas and liquids.

As here embodied, the upper end 50 of vertical tube 42 is connected to a horizontal tube 52 at a point intermediate its ends. Tube 52 is open at both of its ends to permit the fluids which have exited from the upper end of tube 42 to pass out of the valve assembly.

In accordance with the invention, air pocket providing means are positioned over the upper end of tube 42 to provide an air pocket surrounding the open end of tube 42.

As here embodied, the air pocket providing means is comprised of a glass globe 54, shown in phantom in FIG. 2 and in full lines in FIG. 1. Globe 54 has top and side walls but no bottom wall. Globe 54 rests on the ground with its interior in contact with the ground to permit diffusion of liquids and gases into the soil.

As may be best seen in FIG. 1, the open end of tube 42 and the open ends of horizontal tube '52 are at an elevation which is beneath the upper surface 32 of the bottom wall 14 of vault 10. As also may be seen in FIG. 1, the valve has been conveniently placed adjacent the outer surface of vault 10.

Preferably, the fluid exhaust device is constructed entirely of inert materials which will not be attacked by either moisture from the ground or the gas or liquids passing therethrough. Polyethylene has been found to be a particularly suitable material for the tubing and valve, and either glass or polyethylene has been found to be particularly suitable mtaerial for the globe. A threequarter inch GA) diameter polyethylene tubing and a one-quart globe are presently believed to be the best dimensions for the exhaust devices.

In operation, the exhaust device 24 is connected to the burial vault 10 before the burial vault is placed in the ground. In digging the grave, a channel is provided heneath the burial vault cavity which will permit the tubing of the exhaust to be positioned beneath the burial vault without being crushed. As the burial vault is being lowered into the grave, the tube 24 is inserted in the channel. After the burial vault is in place with valve 38 positioned adjacent the outer edge of the vault, globe 54 is slid into position with its bottom edge resting on the ground. When the burial vault is in the ground, top wall '12 is removed so 4 that the casket 22 may be inserted into the burial vault. Top 12 is then put in place and the grave is backfilled with dirt. If desired a bushel of crushed stones may be placed on top of the globe. The backfill dirt cannot interfere with the operation of valve 38 since globe 54 has provided an air pocket around the exit of the valve.

As the body in the casket decomposes, a large quantity of fluids are released. The liquids and gases which accompany the decomposition of the body seep through the walls of casket 22 and flow out the bottom 14 of burial vault 10 through tubes 28 and 36 to valve 38.

The pressure of the liquid and/ or gas in vertical tube 42 lifts ball 44 from its seat 46 and urges ball 44 against bosses 48. The fluid then passes out opening 50 of tube 42 into horizontal tube 52 and out its ends. As the fluid exits from horizontal tube 52, it passes into the space or air pocket provided by globe 54. The fluid then dissipates into the ground at the base of globe 54. When the flow of liquid and gas from the vault ceases, ball 44 once again falls back onto ball seat 46 effectively sealing the exhaust device.

If, during the operations of the exhaust device, the water level surrounding globe 54 should rise to a point where its pressure exceeds the pressure of the fluids attempting to exhaust through valve 38, the pressure of the incoming water acting on ball 44 will force ball 44 back into its seat 46 and prevent outside water from flowing into the burial vault through exhaust device 24.

When the water outside of globe 54 recedes, the pressure acting downwardly on ball 44 will be reduced and the pressure of fluids attempting to exit from the burial vault will raise the ball off of the ball seat and once again permit the liquids and gases to exit.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved exhaust system for burial vaults which is highly effective, simple in construction, assembly, and use, and is free from the possibility of malfunction.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific mechanism shown and described but also includes, within its scope any departures made from such mechanisms that do not depart from the principles of the invention and do not sacrifice its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid exhaust device for an underground burial vault having top, bottom, side, and end walls, comprising:

a conduit extending into the vault at a position adjacent the upper surface of the bottom wall of the vault for removing liquid and gases from the vault;

a check valve connected to said conduit, said valve including a vertical tube connected to the end of said conduit, and a ball positioned in said vertical tube permitting upward passage of fluids while preventing downward passage of fluids, a ball seat positioned beneath the ball for sealing the tube against passage of liquid or gas when said ball rests on said seat, and ball retaining means spaced above said ball for limiting the upward movement of said ball without interfering with the passage of fluids upwardly past the ball when the ball is in contact with said retaining means, said vertical tube having its upper end open at an elevation which is beneath the upper surface of the bottom wall of the vault; and

air pocket means having top and side walls positioned over said open end of said tube with the interior walls of said air pocket means being spaced from said open end of said vertical tube providing an air pocket surrounding said open end of said vertical tube to receive fluids exiting from said vertical tube, said air pocket means being open on its bottom permitting the fluids to dissipate into the soil.

2. The fluid exhaust device of claim 1 wherein the open end of the vertical tube includes a horizontal tube connected to the vertical tube at a position intermediate the horizontal tubes ends with the horizontal tube being opened at at least one of its ends.

3. The fluid exhaust device of claim 2 wherein said 2,705,828 4/1955 Halley 52-132 conduit and said valve are constructed of an inert plas- 2,840,102 6/1958 Richter 251-368 tic material and the air pocket is provided by an inert 2,916,147 12/1959 Checke et a1. 25136 8 globe positioned over the horizontal tube with the open end of the globe being downward, 5 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Pnmary Examiner References Cited J. L. RIDGILL, JR., Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS U.S. Cl. X.R. 431,384 7/1890 Munday 137-459 52498 1,279,599 9/1918 Slaughter 137-533.15 10 

